Fishing in the area of Graham

[XAFSSGT]

Fellow Anglers!

I am new to WA, and looking for some places to fish around Graham, WA.

I do not have a boat.  Unfortunately.

However, I do have several fishing poles, and two boxes of tackle.  I've been fishing most of my life.

Can you make any recommendations?

Thanks!

[notellumcreek]

depends on what kind of fish you are trying to catch. Lots of lakes down there for trout and bass. Could hit up the Puyallup for some combat salmon fishing right now.

[WapitiTalk1]

Kapowsin is pretty close to you and it hold crappie and bass I believe... maybe some catfish?  Most of the freshwater WA lakes are stalked with trout so you shouldn't have any trouble finding some places to down a worm or some powerbait.  I see SSGT in your handle.  If your AD military, you can also rent boating gear on JBLM pretty darn cheap if you want to try your hand at the salmon that are starting to trickle in to the south part of puget sound.  A few other freshwater lakes that offer some various fishing (down HWY 7 from you) are Mineral, Mayfield, Riffe.. trout, landlocked salmon, and tiger muskies  .  There are a few good WA fishing sites out there if you dig around with fishing reports, etc.  Good luck! 

[benhuntin]

Head to the puyallup or carbon rivers. Loaded with salmon right now.

[257wbymagkiller]

Lived in graham all my life and kapowsin is full of bass and blue gill and sun fish and crappie!!! Ohop is ok.

[Firedogg]

Lots of fishing close to Graham. Look up these lakes. Kapowsin, Clear, Ohop, Rapjohn, Silver, Tanwax, Harts,, Alder, and the farthest of the bunch Mineral. A lot of possibilities.

[XAFSSGT]

I appreciate all the replies.

I should clarify, I grew up fishing in lakes mostly.  And I have zero experience fishing for salmon in rivers.

I've heard horror stories about being out there, and people crossing lines, and fighting, etc.

Can anyone provide me a rundown on expectations or protocols during the salmon crazy season?

[WapitiTalk1]

Darrell, it's actually a good year for you to get your feet wet (so to speak) river fishing for salmon.  Every two years the pinks run (this is a run year) by the ba-zillions.  Find a spot, cast a slip weight and leader with hook/corky/yarn upstream a tad, and feel it bump the bottom on your "drift".  When you feel a smack, you smack it back and fish on.  That's a condensed version but that's realy what it's all about.  Yes, you get folks on the rivers that will place themselves 15 inches from your right/left shoulders, commence to cast, and cross your line and others.  I call it the "hey mister, do you mind if I fish here" phenomenon or "combat fishing".  It's really not that bad once you get a spot or two locked in.  Gear up and try these few spots on the Puyallup River - behind Fred Myer on Puyallup River Road and below Main Street Bridge.   

[XAFSSGT]

Darrell, it's actually a good year for you to get your feet wet (so to speak) river fishing for salmon.  Every two years the pinks run (this is a run year) by the ba-zillions.  Find a spot, cast a slip weight and leader with hook/corky/yarn upstream a tad, and feel it bump the bottom on your "drift".  When you feel a smack, you smack it back and fish on.  That's a condensed version but that's realy what it's all about.  Yes, you get folks on the rivers that will place themselves 15 inches from your right/left shoulders, commence to cast, and cross your line and others.  I call it the "hey mister, do you mind if I fish here" phenomenon or "combat fishing".  It's really not that bad once you get a spot or two locked in.  Gear up and try these few spots on the Puyallup River - behind Fred Myer on Puyallup River Road and below Main Street Bridge.

I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to reply! Is there a certain time of day that would be better to hit up these spots? If not, I'm going to head down to the river early Saturday morning for a few hours.

[XAFSSGT]

To prevent mucking up another thread, what does flossing and snagging mean in terms of salmon fishing?

[JimmyHoffa]

To prevent mucking up another thread, what does flossing and snagging mean in terms of salmon fishing?

flossing is legally snagging---snagging in the mouth, on the mouth or forward of the gill plate depending on where you fish.

[XAFSSGT]

To prevent mucking up another thread, what does flossing and snagging mean in terms of salmon fishing?

flossing is legally snagging---snagging in the mouth, on the mouth or forward of the gill plate depending on where you fish.

So, is that a bad thing? or is that okay?

The tone of a previous thread suggested that was a bad thing.

[benhuntin]

Flossing is just fine in the puyallup. Just don't try and convince anyone that they are biting. Perfectly legal to catch salmon in the face.

[XAFSSGT]

Flossing is just fine in the puyallup. Just don't try and convince anyone that they are biting. Perfectly legal to catch salmon in the face.

Okay, now it all makes sense.

I guess this is similar to the catching vs. fishing debate.

[JimmyHoffa]

To prevent mucking up another thread, what does flossing and snagging mean in terms of salmon fishing?

flossing is legally snagging---snagging in the mouth, on the mouth or forward of the gill plate depending on where you fish.

So, is that a bad thing? or is that okay?

The tone of a previous thread suggested that was a bad thing.

legal, so good or bad is your description.  Some people don't like bait or barbed hooks, but they are legal...are they good or bad?